Original Airdate: November 2, 2018
From
Opening World Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Rey Mysterio v Randy Orton: It's funny to think that I've been watching Rey's early years in 1996 WCW recently, and here he is in 2018, and yet he's STILL not even 45 years old! And he's been wrestling since the 80s, technically! If he can make it a few more years, he'll have a career spanning five consecutive decades, which is insane! Orton tries to get all big on him, but Rey sticks and moves, only to get nailed with a dropkick for two while trying a springboard. Randy drops him front-first across the top rope next, and then starts stomping the abdomen to knock the wind out of the masked man. And speaking of the mask, Randy tries to remove it as they fight on the top rope, but Rey knocks him off, and dives with a flying seated senton. He adds a springboard bodypress, and a springboard wheelbarrow bulldog gets him two. Rey with a leg-feed enzuigiri to set up the 619, but Orton stops him short, into a counter to a rope-hung DDT for two. That was nice. RKO, but Rey counters with a sunset cradle at 5:27 to advance! Orton doesn't take that loss well though, and kicks the crap out of Mysterio after the bell. Not much to it, but generally fine. * ½
World Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Jeff Hardy v Miz: Jeff's horrible makeup job is as disturbing overseas as it is at home. They measure each other to start, with Miz of course celebrating every minor victory like he's Owen Hart at WrestleMania X. Jeff with a leg-feed corkscrew kick, but a charge in the corner misses, and Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Hardy counters with a cradle for two. Jeff unloads a series of turnbuckle smashes (complete with annoying rapid fire zoom in/out from the camera), but a slingshot dropkick in the corner ends badly, and Miz works a chinlock. Miz with a two-alarm neckbreaker for two, and a pair of corner dropkicks connect, but Jeff counters a third with a clothesline. Hardy with an inverted atomic drop to set up a legdrop to the groin, followed by a seated dropkick for two. Twist of Fate, but Miz blocks, so Jeff uses the Whisper in the Wind instead for two. Miz bails, and snaps Jeff's throat across the top rope when Hardy goes after him, but a figure four is countered with a cradle for two. Jeff dumps him to the outside for a baseball slide, and the rail runner flying clothesline connects out there. Back in, Hardy looks for the Swanton Bomb, but Miz begs off in the corner. He tries a leveraged pin when Jeff goes after him, but gets busted by the referee, and Hardy reverses for two. Twist, but Miz counters to the Finale at 6:58. Just your basic TV level match here. * ¼
World Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Seth Rollins v Bobby Lashley: Bobby powers him around to start, but Seth manages an enzuigiri to send him to the outside. Rollins looks for a dive to follow up, but Bobby hustles in before he can leap, and drops Seth with a chokeslam for two. Lashley grounds him in a cobra clutch, but Seth slugs free, so Bobby throws a knee, and turnbuckle smashes him a few times. No crazy camera movement this time, thank God. Lashley with a cross corner whip and a neckbreaker for two, and he goes to the mat again with a clutch. Seth starts to escape, so Bobby shifts to a full-nelson. Rollins starts escaping anyway, so Lashley uses a reverse STO to keep him docile, and takes him up for a hanging vertical suplex, but Seth slips free. Seth sends him over the top with a clothesline to set up a pair of topes, and he goes upstairs on the way back in, but Bobby follows for a superplex. Seth manages to fight him off with a sunsetbomb, but Lashley slips out of it, and tries a dominator - only for Seth to slip out of THAT as well. They reverse each other in the corner a few more times from there, this time ending in Rollins sticking him with the curb stomp at 5:25. *
World Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Kurt Angle v Dolph Ziggler: Kurt goes for a quick submission, but Dolph does a good job of blocking the various takedown attempts, and he hangs with him on the mat as well. Kurt tries a front-facelock, but Ziggler is able to counter to a chinlock, so Kurt wrestles it up to a vertical base. That gives us a criss cross, with Angle catching him in an overhead suplex, followed by a pair of release German suplexes. He goes for a third, but Ziggler is in the ropes, and he bails to the apron. Unfortunately for him, Angle follows, and tries a German suplex him off of the apron - giving Dolph the opportunity to get in some HBK cosplay on this trip. Unfortunately for Kurt, he can't get him off the ropes, and Ziggler whips him into the steps out there. Dolph with a neckbreaker for two on the way back inside, and he grabs a sleeper, but Kurt drops into the corner to shake him off. That allows Angle to fire off a three-alarm rolling German suplex for two, but the Olympic Slam gets blocked, and Ziggler uses a jumping DDT for two. Rocker dropper, but Kurt counters to the Olympic for two, and it's go time! He looks for the Anklelock, but Ziggler fights him off, and hits the rocker dropper for two. Zig Zag, but Kurt blocks, and a reversal sequence ends in Angle getting him in the Anklelock! Dolph nears the ropes, but Kurt keeps him anchored, forcing Ziggler to fight for the escape. He manages to get out, so Angle rushes him with a charge, but Dolph dodges, and the Zig Zag finishes at 8:15. Best match of the round by far, as they had some strong chemistry, and worked well together. ** ½
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: Cesaro and Sheamus v The New Day: I'm sick of both of these teams, to be honest. Sheamus and Big E start, but it doesn't really go anywhere. Tags made all around, and Cesaro tries a monkeyflip on Kofi Kingston, but Kofi lands on his feet, and throws a dropkick for two. Criss cross ends in a reversal sequence, which itself ends in Kofi hitting a springboard flying bodypress for two. Cesaro drills him with an uppercut to allow the tag to Sheamus, and the champs cut the ring in half on the man. He manages to fight off a double team effort for the hot tag to Big E, but he hits knees while trying a splash on Cesaro. That allows a tag to Sheamus, but he runs into a uranage. Big E tries to spear him off of the apron, but Sheamus is ready with a knee, and he takes Big E into the corner for a ten-punch. Unfortunately, it's the New Day's own corner, and the challengers kill him with a double team. Big E with a schoolboy on Sheamus for two, but the Big Ending gets blocked, and Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick (with a little help from Big Show) at 10:26. No one would fault you if you fell asleep watching this one. ¾*
World Cup Tournament Semifinal Match: Miz v Rey Mysterio: Mysterio left the top of his outfit in the locker room this time. Not even sure why he wore it to begin with, he looks fine. Criss cross leads to a reversal sequence to start, ending in Rey throwing a seated roundhouse kick for two. Miz responds by absolutely LAUNCHING him out of the ring, but Rey returns the favor, and hits a neat baseball sliding splash on the floor. Back in, Mysterio unloads a ten-punch in the corner, but a charge ends badly when Miz turns it into a reverse wheelbarrow facebuster. Miz stretches him with a Mexican surfboard, but Rey topples him for two, so Miz throws a knee to keep him calm, and works a bodyscissors. Rey escapes, so Miz dumps him to the outside again, and sends him into the barricade for two. Abdominal stretch is applied, so Rey strikes at the knee to try and break free. Miz responds by powering him up into a front-powerslam, but Mysterio manages to turn it into a DDT on the way down, and both guys are left looking up at the lights! That leads to a slugfest, with Rey getting the better of it, and landing a springboard bodypress for two. Springboard flying headscissors follows, and another headscissors sends Miz face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Rey positions him for the 619 from there, but Miz moves well in advance, and wheelbarrow tosses him into the turnbuckles to set up the Finale... for two. Great nearfall there, I totally bought it as the finish. Miz with the yes-kicks, but Rey dodges the last one, and hooks a sloppy sunset cradle for two. 619 finally hits, and Mysterio goes up with a flying frogsplash, but Miz lifts his knees to block, and that's actually enough at 11:09. This was fine. ** ¼
World Cup Tournament Semifinal Match: Seth Rollins v Dolph Ziggler: I think I've seen this pairing enough for two lifetimes, but it's usually pretty good, so whatever. Feeling out process to start, with Dolph dominating on the mat, but running into a bodyslam, and then getting clotheslined over the top. Seth follows with some chops, but runs into a distraction from Drew McIntyre out there, allowing Dolph to plant a jumping DDT on him for two. Ziggler adds a neckbreaker for two, and he goes to a chinlock next, but Seth fights free. Seth tries to catch him with a stinger splash in the corner, but Dolph dodges for two, and he ropechokes him. Jumping backelbow gets two, and another neckbreaker is worth two. Bodyscissors coupled with a crossface follows, but Rollins quickly starts escaping. Ziggler responds by trying another neckbreaker, but Seth counters with a backslide for two. Dolph tries another jumping DDT, but Seth counters with a suplex, so Ziggler counters with a rollup for two - reversed by Rollins for two. Pinfall reversal sequence ends in Seth trying the bucklebomb, but Dolph counters with a sunset flip for two. Superkick, but Seth counters with a short-high knee for two, and sends Ziggler over the top with a catapult. Rollins dives after him with a tope, and he goes for a springboard on the way back in, but Ziggler avoids him, and hits the rocker dropper for two. Dolph goes up, but Seth rushes after him with a vertical superplex - only to have the falcon arrow countered with the Zig Zag for two. That was a nice sequence. Another one, but Rollins counters with a superkick this time, and he goes up - only to have Drew shove him off the top turnbuckle. That allows Ziggler to throw a superkick, and he's going to the finals at 13:05. Some nice stuff mixed in, but fell pretty flat overall. ** ¼
WWE Title Match: AJ Styles v
WWE Universal Title Match: Brock Lesnar v Braun Strowman: This is for the vacant title, and Acting RAW General Manager Baron Corbin is at ringside to present the belt to the winner. He gets a little ahead of himself though, and 'presents' it to the back of Braun's head before the bell. And then the shitty ass referee actually rings the bell before Strowman can even get to his feet! Brock capitalizes with an F5 right away, but it only gets two. Another F5 also gets two, so Brock gives him third F5, still only for two. Lesnar responds by fireman's carry slamming Strowman over the top to the floor, but Braun beats the count, so Brock takes the gloves off. Another F5, but Strowman slips free this time. He makes a brief attempt at mounting a comeback, but quickly walks into another F5, and that one is enough at 3:15. What was the point of even taking his gloves off? This was just Brock spamming his finisher for three minutes. ¼*
WWE World Cup Tournament Final Match: Dolph Ziggler v Shane McMahon: Miz comes out to take his place in this final, but attacks Dolph before the bell, and hurts his leg in the process (kayfabe). So, you'd think that means Dolph gets the win by forfeit, but that would be lame, so Smackdown General Manager Shane McMahon decides that he'll sub himself in instead. Somehow, that's even lamer than just no match at all. He strips off some of his street clothes, and wrestles in what is basically a Dean Ambrose Halloween costume. Ziggler, understandably, objects, but the referee is going along with it, and Shane blitzes him at the bell. He hits a quick jumping backelbow, so Baron Corbin trips him up while he celebrates, but the referee ejects him. The refereeing tonight is just off the charts terrible. Anyway, that distraction allows Ziggler to recover with the Zig Zag for two, but Shane starts slugging away, and hits a floatover DDT. Catapult into the corner sets up the Coast to Coast, and Shane wins the Cup at 2:30. No, really. This really happened. Shane's insane celebration after the match, where he runs around trying to high-five half the crowd, is pretty funny but this was just a terrible moment, and the extravagant fireworks show that follows comes off so badly. It's like the equivalent of the owner of the company giving himself an employee of the month award, and then throwing a giant office party to celebrate it. DUD
Main Event: Undertaker and Kane v Triple H and Shawn Michaels: This marks Shawn's first match since 2010, as he comes out of retirement to make a cash grab. Can't say I blame him. Shawn with the shaved head... yeah, I dunno, I'm not feeling it. Some guys can rock that look, but HBK just ain't one of 'em. He's dressed like a cowboy, but looks like a turtle. Kane and HHH start, and Hunter tries to flex on him, but that goes poorly. Kane with a cross corner whip and a corner clothesline, and he looks to pass to Undertaker, but HHH blocks him. Tag to Shawn, and Michaels comes off the top with a flying axehandle, followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Shawn celebrates that he's still got it, but that nearly gets him chokeslammed by Kane, before he slips free. Superkick, but Kane easily avoids it, and tags in Undertaker. They get some mileage out of a stare down, and Shawn comes at him with chops, but Undertaker shrugs his hairless ass off with a big boot. Dolph must be glued to a screen in the back right now. Ropewalk forearm, but HHH comes in to prevent it, so Kane comes in as well, and Roseanne Barr the door. Both members of DX get whipped into the corner to do their versions of the Flair flip, and they're left on the outside to regroup. Both charge back in to slug it out with the Brothers of Destruction, managing to clothesline both over the top, but they land on their feet, and drag DX out after them for a brawl on the floor. The dust settles back on Undertaker and Shawn, and Undertaker hits the ropewalk forearm this time, but misses a cross corner big boot, allowing the tag to HHH. Hunter unloads with chops, but Undertaker avoids a kneeling facebuster, and drops the Game with a clothesline. Over to Kane to abuse HHH in the corner, and a bodyslam sets up an elbowdrop, but Hunter rolls out of the way. That leads to a slugfest, which HHH gets the better of into a DDT, ahead of a tag. Shawn comes in hot on Kane, and he can still do the kip-up! Looked like it took a lot more effort than it used to, but he can do it! HHH comes in to help with a tandem suplex, and Shawn comes off the top with a flying elbowdrop to set up the Superkick, but Kane counters with a chokeslam! Tag to Undertaker, and he unloads on Michaels in the corner, and uses a snake-eyes to set up a running big boot. Legdrop follows for two, so HHH distracts the Deadman, allowing Shawn to fire off the Superkick before Undertaker can go in for the kill. Undertaker sits up, and his cool has been lost, kids! He dumps Michaels to the outside for a trip onto an announce table, but HHH comes over to save, leading to a really ugly spot where he and Undertaker seem to be on different pages over who is supposed to be the one to take a bump into the barricade. Kane makes his mark by chokeslamming HHH through an announce table from there, which allows Undertaker to hit Shawn with the guillotine legdrop for two, and the Brothers work HBK over two-on-one as HHH recovers. Shawn manages to knock them both to the outside, and he dives off the top with a flying moonsault press, as Cole shouts about "shades of 1996" on commentary. Uh, what? I mean, I get what he's going for, but Shawn was doing that spot for years and years, why '96? I don't even think he really started doing it on the outside until his second run, in fact. More like 'shades of 2006.' Anyway, HHH has recovered, and he gets the tag, coming in hot on the Brothers. He goes for the Pedigree on Undertaker, but gets backdropped before he can execute. Reversal sequence ends in Hunter hitting the move, but Kane is on him before he can cover, and Undertaker gets him in Hell's Gate. Shawn tries to save, but Kane cuts him off, so Michaels Superkicks Kane onto Undertaker to break the hold, and leave all four men down. The Brothers are up first, and try stereo
BUExperience: I’m not a political guy, I’m a wrestling guy, and so my interest in this show is strictly the wrestling. And, as a wrestling show, it’s just not very good. It’s not terrible either, but certainly nothing worth investing nearly four hours into seeing. Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan both making returns is certainly historically significant, though.
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